Virtualization method and storage apparatus for a storage system having external connectivity

ABSTRACT

A virtualization method for a storage system recognizes one or more logical devices located in a first and second storage apparatus and defined in a host apparatus as being connected to a channel, based on an inquiry command sent from the host apparatus when the channel comes on-line; detects one or more logical devices among the one or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel and located in the first and second storage apparatus, based on the recognition result; sets, based on the detection result, one or more virtual volumes in the first storage apparatus, respectively corresponding to the one or more logical devices in the second storage apparatus; and sets a first logical path between each of the set one or more virtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or more logical devices in the second storage apparatus.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2006-040255, filed on Feb. 17, 2006, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a storage system, a virtualizationmethod, and a storage apparatus, and is particularly suitable for astorage apparatus having external connectability, and a storage systemhaving the storage apparatus as a component.

2. Description of Related Art

As disclosed in JP-A-2005-157867, a conventional storage apparatus has,as one of its functional capabilities, external connectability that canvirtualize logical volumes (logical volumes are units of storage areas,and they are conventionally referred to as “logical devices” inmainframe systems) provided by each of one or more other storageapparatuses connected to that storage apparatus.

In these cases, in a storage apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as“internal storage apparatus”) that virtualizes another storageapparatus, virtual logical volumes (hereinafter, referred to as “virtualvolumes”) are configured in association with logical volumes defined inthe virtualized storage apparatus (hereinafter, referred to as “externalstorage apparatus”).

The internal storage apparatus, upon receipt of a request from a hostapparatus to access a virtual volume, transfers the access request tothe external storage apparatus that has the corresponding logicalvolume, and has the external storage apparatus execute the actual datainput/output processing.

The aforementioned external connectability makes it possible tocollectively manage the logical volumes provided by a plurality ofstorage apparatuses, facilitating easy addition of a storage apparatusor similar.

SUMMARY

With the external connectability described above, in order to access anexternal storage apparatus from a mainframe host apparatus, it isnecessary to configure a virtual volume with a device numbercorresponding to generation information held by the host apparatus inthe internal storage apparatus, and also configure a logical pathbetween the virtual volume and the corresponding logical device in theexternal storage apparatus. Here, generation information meansinformation that specifies a control unit (in this specification, acontrol unit refers to a storage apparatus) connected to the channelsconnected to a host apparatus, or a device, such as a logical device,existing in the control unit, and the information is defined by a systemadministrator in the host apparatus.

When logical paths are configured between virtual volumes in an internalstorage apparatus and the corresponding logical devices in an externalstorage apparatus, a user first searches for device information on thedevices connected to the channels set between the internal storageapparatus and a host apparatus, which is contained in the generationinformation held by the host apparatus. More specifically, the usersearches for an identification number for an external storage apparatus,which is a control unit, or an identification number for a logicaldevice configured in the external storage apparatus (hereinafter,collectively referred to as device numbers”).

Subsequently, the user assigns virtual volumes, each configured inassociation with a logical device in the external storage apparatus,with the device numbers for their corresponding logical devices so thatthe external storage apparatus device configuration recognized by thehost apparatus based on the generation information, and the virtualdevice configuration in the internal storage apparatus perfectlycorrespond to each other. Then, a logical path, which is a logicalcommunication channel, is formed between each of the virtual volumes inthe internal storage apparatus, and a corresponding logical device inthe external storage apparatus.

In this case, in a conventional storage apparatus having theaforementioned external connectability, it is necessary to manually setcorresponding device numbers for the virtual volumes in the internalstorage apparatus, or configure logical paths between these virtualvolumes and the corresponding logical devices in the external storageapparatus; which is problematic in that a large workload will be imposedon the system administrator to perform the pre-settings for externalconnection.

Also, in a conventional storage apparatus having the aforementionedexternal connectability, when there is an error in setting thecorrespondence between the virtual volumes in an internal storageapparatus and the logical devices in an external storage apparatus, forexample, one where data that should be stored in a first logical deviceis stored in a second logical device, not the first logical device, thiscauses a problem in that data originally stored in the second logicaldevice may be destroyed by the writing of that data.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the abovepoints, and an object of the present invention is to provide ahighly-reliable storage system, virtualization method, and storageapparatus that are less burdensome settings-wise, capable of: first,omitting pre-settings for external connection; and second, preventingthe occurrence of data destruction caused by errors in logical pathsettings.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides astorage system provided with an internal apparatus between a hostapparatus and an external apparatus that provides one or more logicaldevices for storing data, the one or more logical devices provided bythe external apparatus being virtualized by the internal apparatus, thestorage system including: upon a channel connected to the internalapparatus coming on-line, the host apparatus sending a predeterminedinquiry command to all logical devices defined as being connected thechannel via the channel; and the internal apparatus: recognizing thelogical devices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to thechannel, based on the inquiry command sent from the host apparatus,detecting one or more logical devices, from among the logical devicesdefined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, thatexist in the external apparatus, based on the recognition result, andsetting, based on the detection result, one or more virtual volumes inits own apparatus, respectively corresponding to the one or more logicaldevices, from among the one or more logical volumes defined in the hostapparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the externalapparatus, and also sets a first logical path between each of the setone or more virtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or morelogical devices existing in the external apparatus.

In a storage system with the above configuration, the setting of avirtual volume in an internal apparatus, and the setting of a logicalpath between the virtual volume and its corresponding logical device inan external apparatus are performed without human labor, making itpossible to omit system administrator workload for these settings, andalso to prevent the occurrence of data destruction caused by any errorin the settings.

The preset invention also provides a logical device virtualizationmethod for a storage system provided with an internal apparatus betweena host apparatus and an external apparatus that provides one or morelogical devices for storing data, the one or more logical devicesprovided by the external apparatus being virtualized by the internalapparatus, the method including: a first step of, when a channelconnected to the internal apparatus comes on-line, the host apparatussending a predetermined inquiry command to all logical devices definedas being connected to the channel via the channel; a second step of theinternal apparatus recognizing the logical devices defined in the hostapparatus as being connected to the channel, based on the inquirycommand sent from the host apparatus; a third step of the internalapparatus detecting one or more logical devices, from among the logicaldevices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel,that exist in the external apparatus, based on the recognition result;and a fourth step of the internal apparatus setting, based on thedetection result, one or more virtual volumes in its own apparatus,respectively corresponding to the one or more logical devices, fromamong the logical devices defined in the host apparatus as beingconnected to the channel, that exist in the external apparatus, and alsosetting a first logical path between each of the set one or more virtualvolumes and each of the corresponding one or more logical devicesexisting in the external apparatus.

According to the above virtualization method, the setting of a virtualvolume in an internal apparatus, and the setting of a logical pathbetween the virtual volume and its corresponding logical device in anexternal apparatus are performed without human labor, making it possibleto omit system administrator workload for these settings, and also toprevent the occurrence of data destruction caused by any error in thesettings.

The present invention further provides a storage apparatus providedbetween a host apparatus and an external storage apparatus that providesone or more logical devices for storing data, the storage apparatusvirtualizing the one or more logical devices provided by the externalapparatus, the storage apparatus including: a logical device recognitionunit that, when the host apparatus sends a predetermined inquiry commandto all logical devices defined as being connected to a channel connectedto the storage apparatus via the channel upon the channel comingon-line, recognizes the one or more logical devices defined in the hostapparatus as being connected to the channel, based on the inquirycommand sent from the host apparatus; a device detection unit thatdetects one or more logical devices, from among the one or more logicaldevices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel,that exist in the external apparatus, based on the recognition result;and a logical path setting unit that sets, based on the detectionresult, one or more virtual volumes in its own apparatus, respectivelycorresponding to the one or more logical devices defined in the hostapparatus as being connected to the channel, that exist in the externalapparatus, and also sets a first logical path between each of the setone or more virtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or morelogical devices existing in the external apparatus.

In a storage apparatus with the above configuration, the setting of avirtual volume in an internal apparatus, and the setting of a logicalpath between the virtual volume and its corresponding logical device inan external apparatus are performed without human labor, making itpossible to omit system administrator workload for these settings, andalso to prevent the occurrence of data destruction caused by any errorin the settings.

The present invention makes it possible to provide a highly-reliablestorage system, virtualization method, and storage apparatus that areless burdensome settings-wise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a storagesystem according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain the setting of a pathbetween a host apparatus and an external storage apparatus when the hostapparatus is an open apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain the setting of a pathbetween a host apparatus and an external storage apparatus when the hostapparatus is a mainframe apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a path setting procedure.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a path setting procedure.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain a “DeviceCharacteristic Information” command.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are conceptual diagrams provided to explain pathsetting processing.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 14 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 15 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 16 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 19 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 20 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain path settingprocessing.

FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B and FIG. 21C are conceptual diagrams provided toexplain error processing during path setting processing according to asecond embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain error processingduring path setting processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram provided to explain another embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention is described below with referenceto the drawings.

(1) Configuration of a Storage System According to an Embodiment of thePresent Invention

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates an entire storage systemaccording to the embodiment. The storage system is configured by hostapparatuses 2 being connected to an internal storage apparatus 4 via anetwork 3, and the internal apparatus 4 being connected to an externalstorage apparatus 5.

A host apparatus 2 is a mainframe computer apparatus having informationprocessing resources, such as a CPU (central processing unit), andmemory, etc. The host apparatus 2 executes the below-describedprocessing by the CPU executing various control programs stored in thememory. The host apparatus 2 also has information input devices (notshown), such as a keyboard, a switch, a pointing device, a microphone,and information output device (not shown), such as a monitor display,and speaker.

The network 3 is configured of, for example, a SAN (Storage AreaNetwork), a LAN (Logical Area Network), the Internet, and a public lineor a dedicated line. Communication between the host apparatuses 2 andthe internal apparatus 4 via the network 3 is performed according toFibre Channel Protocol if the network 3 is a SAN, and according toTCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) if the network3 is a LAN.

The internal storage apparatus 4 includes a plurality of disk devices10A and a controller 11A that controls these disk devices 10A.

A disk device 10A may be an inexpensive disk drive such as an SCSI(Small Computer System Interface) disk, or an inexpensive disk such as aSATA (Serial AT Attachment) disk or optical disk. One or more diskdevices 10A provide a storage area where one or more logical devicesLDEV are defined. Data from a host apparatus 2 is stored in the logicaldevices LDEV.

The controller 11A includes a plurality of channel interfaces 20A, a CPU21A, local memory 22A, a data transfer controller 23A, cache memory 24A,a disk interface 25A, and a maintenance management terminal 26A.

The channel interfaces 20A, each being an interface to the network 3,send/receive write data, data read from the disk devices 10A, andvarious commands to/from the host apparatuses 2. One of the plurality ofchannel interfaces 20A is connected as an external connection interfaceto the external storage apparatus 5 via a network such as a cable or aLAN, and sends/receives data and commands to/from the external storageapparatus 5.

The CPU 21A executes various processing including that relating toexternal connection, by executing a microprogram read from the diskdevices 10A to the local memory 22A.

The local memory 22A is used as work memory for the CPU 21A. The datatransfer controller 23A controls data transfer between the channelinterfaces 21A and the disk interface 25A based on the control from theCPU 21A.

The cache memory 24A is used for temporarily storing data to betransferred between the channel interfaces 20A and the disk interface25A. The cache memory 24A also stores system information read fromsystem disks 10A when the internal storage apparatus 4 starts.

The disk interface 25A, which is an interface to the disk devices 10A,sends/receives write data, data read from the disk devices 10A, andvarious commands to/from the disk devices 10A according to, for example,Fibre Channel Protocol.

The maintenance management terminal 26A is a computer apparatus used formaintenance and management of the internal storage apparatus 4, and is,for example, a laptop personal computer. The maintenance managementterminal 26A can monitor the internal storage apparatus 4 for any erroroccurring therein, and display the monitored status on a display screen(not shown), and can also order blocking of a disk device 10A based onan instruction from a host apparatus.

The external storage apparatus 5 has a similar configuration to theinternal storage apparatus 4, as can be seen from FIG. 1, where theexternal storage apparatus 5's components are provided with the samereference numerals as those for the corresponding components in theinternal storage apparatus 4—but with “A” instead of “B”. One of thechannel interfaces 20B in the external storage apparatus 5 is connectedto the external connection channel interface 20A in the internal storageapparatus 4, and the external storage apparatus 5 communicates with theinternal storage apparatus 4 via this channel interface 20B.

(2) Logical Path Setting Function (2-1) Differences in Logical PathSettings Between an Open System and a Mainframe System

Next, a logical path setting function included in the internal storageapparatus 4 in the storage system 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention is explained below.

First, the differences in the method for setting a logical path forexternal connection between the internal storage apparatus 4 and theexternal storage apparatus 5 when the storage system 1 is an open system(a computer system made from a combination of software and hardware fromvarious manufacturers), and when the storage system 1 is a mainframesystem (a general-purpose computer apparatus used in a corporate coresystem), will be explained.

When a host apparatus 2 is an open apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2,control programs 30A and 30B (hereinafter referred to as LUN managers)installed in the internal storage apparatus 4 and the external storageapparatus 5 respectively, set a logical path between the host apparatus2 and the internal storage apparatus 4, and a logical path between theinternal storage apparatus 4 and the external storage apparatus 5,respectively.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the LUN managers 30A and 30B in theinternal storage apparatus 4 and the external storage apparatus 5respectively create and store tables 31A and 31B (hereinafter referredto as the “logical unit management tables”) in which a port ID (“PortID”) for each port, ID for a host apparatus 2 (“HOST ID”) connected tothe port, a LUN (“LUN”), which is an identification number for a virtualvolume VVOL or logical volume VOL for which a logical path to the portis set, and the device type (“DKU Emulation”) of the relevant storageapparatus are associated with each other.

Here, in association with the LUN for each of logical volumes VOL, theLUN manager 30B in the external storage apparatus 5 registers anidentification number (CUN) for the control unit (the external storageapparatus 5) having the logical volume VOL, and an identification number(“LDEVN”) for the logical volume VOL when it is treated as a logicaldevice LDEV in the logical unit management table 31B, to manage thatinformation.

Here, as with the LUN manager 30B in the external storage apparatus 5,the LUN manager 30A in the internal storage apparatus 4 also creates andstores the logical unit management table 31A in which a port ID (“PortID”) for each port, ID for a host apparatus 2 (“HOST ID”) connected tothe port, a LUN (“LUN”), which is an identification number for a virtualvolume VVOL for which a logical path to the port is set, anidentification number for a control unit having a logical volume VOLcorresponding to the virtual volume VVOL (“CUN”; hereinafter referred toas the “control unit number”), an identification number for a logicalvolume VOL corresponding to each virtual volume when it is treated as alogical device LDEV, and the device type (“DKU Emulation”) of therelevant storage apparatus are associated with each other.

However, in an open system, an LUN is used to designate a virtual volumeVVOL or a logical volume VOL between the host apparatus 2, the internalstorage apparatus 4, and the external storage apparatus 5, andtherefore, the LUN manager 30A in the internal storage apparatus 4 canset unique numbers for a control unit number (“CUN”) and a logicaldevice number (“LDEVN”) for each virtual volume VVOL in the logical unitmanagement table 31A.

The host apparatus 2 searches for a virtual volume VVOL set by the LUNmanager 30A in the internal storage apparatus 4, and assigns a devicename to the detected virtual volume VVOL to access the same. In thiscase, if the host apparatus 2 is an open apparatus, it does not managegeneration information relating to the logical volumes VOL connected toeach channel. It also does not manage the logical volumes VOL connectedto each channel, using control unit numbers and logical device numbers.

Meanwhile, if the host apparatus 2 is a mainframe apparatus, as shown inFIG. 3, a system administrator sets a logical path between a virtualvolume VVOL in the internal storage apparatus 4 and a logical deviceLDEV in the external storage apparatus 5.

More specifically, the system administrator creates generationinformation 32 in which ID for each channel (“Channel ID”), a controlunit number (“CUN”) for the control unit (the external storage apparatus5) connected to the channel, a logical device number (“LDEVN”) for eachlogical device LDEV in the control unit, an identification number (HOSTAddress) recognized by the host apparatus 2 for each logical deviceLDEV, and the internal storage apparatus 4's device type (“DKUEmulation”) are associated with each other, and makes the host apparatus2 store that information.

For example, generation information 32 shown in FIG. 3 indicates that achannel with a channel ID “0A” is connected to a control unit with acontrol unit number “00” (external storage apparatus 5), that thecontrol unit contains logical devices LDEV with logical device numbers“01,” “02,” “03,” “04” and “0F,” that these logical devices LDEV aremanaged by the host apparatus 2 with addresses “1000,” “1001,” “1002,”“1003,” and “100F,” respectively, and that the device type for each ofthese logical devices LDEV is “33903-3.”

The system administrator sets virtual volumes VVOL in the internalstorage apparatus 4 in association with the logical devices LDEV in theexternal storage apparatus 5 that are defined in the generationinformation in the host apparatus 2, assigns these virtual volumes VVOLwith device numbers for the corresponding logical devices LDEV (a devicenumber is the combination of a control unit number and a logical devicenumber), and also sets a logical path between each virtual volume VVOLand the corresponding logical device LDEV in the external storageapparatus 5.

In this case, in the mainframe system, a device number is used todesignate a logical device LDEV between the host apparatus 2, theinternal storage apparatus 4 and the external storage apparatus 5, andtherefore, it is necessary for the device numbers for the logicaldevices LDEV defined in the generation information in the host apparatus2, those assigned to the virtual volumes in the internal storageapparatus 4, and those for the logical devices in the external storageapparatus 5 to correspond perfectly to each other. It is also necessarythat the virtual volumes VVOL in the internal storage apparatus 4 berespectively connected to the corresponding logical devices in theexternal storage apparatus 5 via the logical paths.

However, the setting of device numbers for the virtual volumes VVOL inthe internal storage apparatus 4, and the setting of logical pathsbetween the virtual volumes VVOL and the logical devices LDEV areperformed by human labor, so there are problems in that workers willhave large workloads, and that trouble, such as data destruction, mayoccur due to any setting errors.

Therefore, in the storage system 1 according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, the internal storage apparatus 4 recognizes deviceinformation contained in the generation information in the hostapparatus 2, and based on the recognized device information, setsnecessary virtual volumes VVOL and logical paths between these virtualvolume VVOL and their corresponding logical devices in the externalstorage apparatus 5.

Next, the logical path setting function included in the internal storageapparatus 4 will be detailed.

(2-2) Logical Path Setting Processing

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 each are flowcharts showing a sequence of processesperformed by the CPU 21A in the internal storage apparatus 4 in relationto the logical path setting function. The CPU 21A in the internalstorage apparatus 4, triggered by the host apparatus 2's execution ofon-line processing for making a channel connected to its own storageapparatus come on-line, executes a path setting procedure RT1 shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 5 based on the microprogram stored in the local memory22A.

In other words, the host apparatus 2, upon a channel connected to theinternal storage apparatus 4 (its channel ID is “0A”) coming on-line,sends a “Device Characteristics Information” command to each of thelogical devices connected to the channel with the channel ID “0A” basedon the generation information 32 described above with reference to FIG.3.

The “Device Characteristics Information” command is an inquiry commandto seek information on the configuration of the destination device, andas shown in FIG. 6, has fields 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D, . . . forrespectively storing different information such as control unit typeinformation (“Storage director type”) indicating the type of hostapparatuses 2 that can access the logical device LDEV, control unitmodel information (“Storage director model information”), which isdetailed information on the control unit type information, device typeinformation (“Device type”) indicating the logical device LDEV type, anddevice model information (“Device model”), which is informationincidental to the device type information. Here, the “DeviceCharacteristics Information” command is sent from the host apparatus 2to each of the logical devices LDEV when no information corresponding tothe fields 40A to 40D, . . . is stored.

Thus, if the destination for the “Device Characteristics Information”command, that is, a logical device LDEV recognized by the host apparatus2 as being connected to the channel, exists in the internal storageapparatus 4, the logical device LDEV sends a response that containsrelevant information stored in each of the fields 40A to 40D in the“Device Characteristics Information” command to the host apparatus 2.

Consequently, the CPU 21A in the internal storage apparatus 4, based onthe logical device LDEV's response to the “Device CharacteristicsInformation” command, recognizes the device numbers for the devicesrecognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel,that exists in the internal storage apparatus 4 (hereinafter, it isassumed that only the logical device LDEV with a device number “00:0F”in FIG. 7 applies) as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B (SP1).

Meanwhile, when no destination for the “Device CharacteristicsInformation” command, that is, no logical device LDEV recognized by thehost apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel, exists in theinternal storage apparatus 4, there is no response to that command.

Consequently, the CPU 21A in the internal storage apparatus 4 recognizesdevices recognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to thechannel, that do not exist in the internal storage apparatus 4(hereinafter, it is assumed that the logical devices LDEV with thedevice numbers “00:00” to “00:03” in FIG. 7 apply) as show in FIG. 7(SP1).

The CPU 21A recognizes the host apparatus 2 type at step SP1 based onthe host apparatus 2's vendor name obtained when link-initializationprocessing is performed when connecting its own storage apparatus (theinternal storage apparatus 4) and the host apparatus 2 (SP1).

Subsequently, the CPU 21A, as shown in FIG. 8, executeslink-initialization processing for an “Initiator” port (a port thatissues directions) in the channel interface 20A (FIG. 1) connected tothe external storage apparatus 5, and as shown in FIG. 9, recognizes theport ID for the internal storage apparatus 4 (“1A” in the example ofFIG. 9), the port ID for the external storage apparatus 5 (“1B” in theexample of FIG. 9), and the manufacture number for the external storageapparatus 5 (“12345” in the example of FIG. 9) (SP2).

Then, the CPU 21A provides the external storage apparatus 5 with thesame control unit number as the one recognized at step SP1 based on theport ID for its own storage apparatus (the internal storage apparatus4), the port ID for the external storage apparatus 5, and themanufacture number for the external storage apparatus 5 obtained at stepSP2 to establish a logical path to the external storage apparatus 5(SP3).

Next, the CPU 21A, as shown in FIG. 10, selects all the logical devicesLDEV (“00:00” to “00:0F”) recognized by the host apparatus 2 at step SP1as being connected to the channel, recognized by the CPU 21A at step SP1(SP4), and as shown in FIG. 11, sends a “Device CharacteristicsInformation” command to the selected logical devices LDEV via thelogical path established at step SP3 (SP5).

Each of the logical devices LDEV in the external storage apparatus 5(the logical devices LDEV that are the destinations for the “DeviceCharacteristics Information” command), upon receipt of the “DeviceCharacteristics Information” command, stores information relevant to itsown device in the respective fields 40A to 40D, . . . in the “DeviceCharacteristics Information” command, and then returns that command tothe internal storage apparatus 4 via the logical path established atstep SP3.

When no destinations for the “Device Characteristics Information”command, that is, no logical devices LDEV recognized by the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel, exist in the externalstorage apparatus 5, the external storage apparatus 5 sends a “DeviceLevel Exception” notice, which is a notice informing that no suchlogical devices LDEV exist, to the external storage apparatus 4 via thelogical path established at SP3.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 21A in the internal storageapparatus 4, based on the “Device Characteristic Information” commandsreturned from the external storage apparatus 5, judges the logicaldevices LDEV, from among those selected at step SP4, that returned the“Device Characteristic Information” command as existing in the externalstorage apparatus 5, and the logical devices LDEV that did not returnthe “Device Characteristic Information” command as not existing in theexternal storage apparatus 5. For the logical devices LDEV judged asexisting in the external storage apparatus 5, the CPU 21A recognizes thedevice types for each of these logical devices LDEV based on the “DeviceCharacteristics Information” commands returned from the logical devicesLDEV (SP6).

Subsequently, the CPU 21A compares the logical devices LDEV recognizedby the host apparatus 2 as being connected to the host apparatus 2,recognized by the CPU 21 at step SP1, and the logical devices LDEVrecognized at step SP6 as existing in the external storage apparatus 5to judge whether all of the logical devices LDEV recognized by the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel exist in the externalstorage apparatus 5 (SP7).

Then, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the CPU 21A, if it is judged thatall of the logical devices LDEV recognized by the host apparatus 2 asbeing connected to the channel exist in the external storage apparatus5, obtains device configuration information, which is informationrelating to logical devices LDEV existing in its own storage apparatus,stored in the local memory 22A (SP8).

The CPU 21A, based on the obtained device configuration information forits own apparatus, judges whether any logical devices LDEV (includingvirtual volumes VVOL) with the same device numbers as the logicaldevices LDEV recognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected tothe channel and existing in the external storage apparatus 5 alreadyexist in the internal apparatus 4 (SP9).

A negative result at that judgment, as shown in FIG. 15, means that nological devices LDEV (including virtual volumes VVOL) with the samedevice numbers as the logical devices LDEV recognized by the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing in theexternal storage apparatus 5 exist in the internal apparatus 4.

Therefore, the CPU 21A selects the logical devices LDEV recognized bythe host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel as virtualizationobjects (SP10), and then sets virtual volumes VVOL having the samedevice numbers as the selected logical devices LDEV in its own storageapparatus (SP16). Subsequently, the CPU 21A sets a logical path betweeneach of the virtual volumes VVOL set as above, and each of thecorresponding logical volumes LDEV in the external storage apparatus 5,and then ends the processing.

Meanwhile, an affirmative result in the judgment at step SP9, as shownin FIG. 16, means that logical devices LDEV (including virtual volumesVVOL) with the same device numbers as the logical devices LDEVrecognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel andexisting in the external storage apparatus 5 exist in the internalapparatus 4.

Therefore, the CPU 21A then makes the maintenance management terminal26A (FIG. 1) display a warning to the effect that logical devices LDEVwith the same device numbers as the logical devices LDEV recognized bythe host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing inthe external storage apparatus 5 exist in the internal apparatus 4(SP14). Then the CPU 21A ends the processing.

When the CPU 21A judges at step SP7 that not all of the logical devicesLDEV recognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to thechannel exist in the external storage apparatus 5 as shown in FIG. 17and FIG. 18, it recognizes the logical devices recognized by the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing in theexternal storage apparatus 5 (SP11).

The CPU 21A then obtains device configuration information for its ownstorage apparatus (the internal storage apparatus 4) stored in the localmemory 22A like in the above step SP8 (SP12)

The CPU 21A judges whether any logical devices LDEV (including virtualvolumes VVOL) with the same device numbers as the logical devices LDEVrecognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel andexisting in the external storage apparatus 5 exist in the internalstorage apparatus 4, based on the results of step SP11 and step SP12(SP13).

A negative result at this judgment, as show in FIG. 19, means that nological devices LDEV with the same device numbers as the logical devicesLDEV recognized by the host apparatus 2 as being connected to thechannel and existing in the external storage apparatus 5 exist in itsown storage apparatus.

Consequently, the CPU 21A selects the logical devices LDEV recognized bythe host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing inthe external storage apparatus 5 as virtualization objects (SP15), andsets virtual volumes VVOL each having the same device numbers as each ofthe selected virtualization object logical devices LDEV in its ownstorage apparatus (SP16). Then, the CPU 21A sets a logical path betweeneach of the virtual volumes set as above, and each of the correspondinglogical devices LDEV, and then ends the processing.

Meanwhile, an affirmative result in the judgment at step SP13, as shownin FIG. 20, means that logical device(s) LDEV (including virtual volumesVVOL) with the same device numbers as logical devices LDEV recognized bythe host apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing inthe external storage apparatus 5 already exist in the internal storageapparatus 4.

Therefore, the CPU 21A then makes the maintenance management terminal26A (FIG. 1) display a warning to the effect that logical devices LDEVwith the same device numbers as logical devices LDEV recognized by thehost apparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing in theexternal storage apparatus 5 already exist in the internal storageapparatus 4 (SP14). Then the CPU 21A ends the processing.

(2-3) Effect of the Embodiment

In the above-described configuration, the CPU 21A in the internalstorage apparatus 4 recognizes the logical devices LDEV recognized by ahost apparatus 2 as being connected to a channel connected to theinternal storage apparatus 4, and also ones, from among those logicaldevices LDEV, that exist in its own storage apparatus, based on “DeviceCharacteristics Information” commands sent from the host apparatus 2when the channel is brought on-line.

The CPU 21A also recognizes the relevant logical devices LDEV that existin the external storage apparatus 5, based on the responses to the“Device Characteristics Information” commands obtained by sending the“Device Characteristics Information” commands to the external storageapparatus 5. The CPU 21A then sets virtual volume VVOL in its ownstorage apparatus based on the recognition results, and also sets alogical path between each of these virtual volumes VVOL and each of thecorresponding logical volumes in the external storage apparatus 5.

Accordingly, in the storage system 1, the setting of virtual volumes inthe internal storage apparatus 4, and the setting of a logical pathbetween each of the virtual volumes and each of the correspondinglogical devices in the external storage apparatus 5 are performedwithout human labor, making it possible to omit system administratorworkload for these settings, and also to prevent the occurrence of datadestruction caused by an error in the settings. Consequently, it ispossible to obtain a highly-reliable storage system that is lessburdensome settings-wise.

(2) Second Embodiment

Virtual volumes having the same device numbers as logical devicesexisting in the external storage apparatus 5 cannot be set in theinternal storage apparatus 4 when an affirmative result has beenobtained in the judgment at step SP9 in the path setting procedure RT1,or when a negative result has been obtained in the judgment at step SP13in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Therefore, in this case, virtual volumes VVOL willbe set in the internal storage apparatus 4 with device numbers differentfrom those for the logical devices LDEV (including virtual volumes VVOL)already existing in the internal storage apparatus provided.

However, in that case, it is necessary to update generation informationin the host apparatus 2 according to the device numbers assigned to theset virtual volumes VVOL, which may cause trouble with input errors inthe update.

Therefore, in a storage system 50 (FIG. 1) according to a secondembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 21A, it ispossible to separately manage logical devices LDEV (including virtualvolumes VVOL) having the same device number by adding an ID (hereinafterreferred to as “device number ID”) to each of the logical devices LDEV(including virtual volumes VVOL) in the internal storage apparatus 4.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 21B, the device IDs are managed on a portbasis. In other words, as shown in FIG. 22, only access from therelevant port, which differs from device number ID to device number ID,is allowed. This is for preventing confusion in the management oflogical devices LDEV having the same device number by separating thoselogical devices according to their respective accessible ports, becausealready-defined logical devices LDEV having the same device number maybe used by another host apparatus 2.

The CPU 21A in the internal storage apparatus 51 (FIG. 1) according tothe second embodiment, when an affirmative result has been obtained atstep SP9 in the path setting procedure RT1, or when a negative resulthas been obtained at step SP13 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, that is, when anylogical device LDEV (including a virtual volume VVOL) having the samedevice number as a logical device in the external storage apparatus 5 isalready set in the internal storage apparatus 4, switches the port forthe logical path then connected to the host apparatus 2 to another port(in the example of FIG. 21(B), the port with the port number “00” isswitched to the port with the port number “01”.)

The CPU 21A also creates a virtual volume VVOL corresponding to alogical volume LDEV in the external storage apparatus 5, providing thevirtual volume with a device number ID “01”, and as shown in FIG. 21C,the logical device LDEV is mapped onto the virtual volume VVOL.Furthermore, the CPU 21A displays a warning to the effect that thatswitching of ports has been performed at step SP14 in the path settingprocedure RT1.

Consequently, the user sets the host apparatus 2 to, when accessing alogical device LDEV already set in the internal storage apparatus 4,access the port with the port ID “00” in the internal storage apparatus4, and when accessing a logical device LDEV set in the external storageapparatus 5 using the same device number as the logical device LDEV inthe internal storage apparatus 4, access the port with the port ID “01”in the internal storage apparatus 4, ensuring that the host apparatus 2can access the desired one from the logical device LDEV with the devicenumber ID “00” and the logical device LDEV with the same device numberand the device number ID “01”.

As described above, in the storage system 50 according to the secondembodiment, a logical device LDEV in the internal storage apparatus 4 ismanaged with a device number ID added to its device number, and adifferent port is set for each device number ID, making device numberID-based access to a virtual volume VVOL possible, and therefore, evenwhen the device number for a logical device LDEV recognized by the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel and existing in theexternal storage apparatus 5 is identical to the device number for alogical device LDEV already existing in the internal storage apparatus 4in the path setting processing described with reference to FIG. 4 andFIG. 5, these logical devices LDEV can be managed separately.

(3) Other Embodiments

The above-described embodiments relate to the case where the internalstorage apparatus 4 and the external storage apparatus 5 are directlyconnected to each other. However, the present invention is not limitedto these embodiments, and can apply to the case where the internalstorage apparatus 4 and the external storage apparatus 5 are connectedvia a switch 60. However, in this case, it is necessary to set a linkaddress in the switch 60 to set a logical path between each of thevirtual volumes VVOL in the internal storage apparatus 4 and thecorresponding logical devices LDEV in the external storage apparatus 5.

The above-described embodiments relate to the case where a CPU 21Aincludes: a logical device recognition unit that recognizes one or morelogical devices LDEV defined in a host apparatus 2 as being connected toa channel; a logical device detection unit that detects one or morelogical devices LDEV existing in the external storage apparatus 5 fromamong the one or more logical devices LDEV defined in the host apparatus2 as being connected to the channel; and a logical path setting unitthat sets, based on the detection result, one or more virtual volumesVVOL in its own storage apparatus 4, respectively corresponding to theone or more logical devices existing in the external storage apparatus 5from among the one or more logical devices LDEV defined in the hostapparatus 2 as being connected to the channel, and sets a logical pathbetween each of the set one or more virtual volumes VVOL and each of thecorresponding one or more logical devices existing in the externalstorage apparatus 5. However, the present invention is not limited tothese embodiments, and the logical device recognition unit, the logicaldevice detection unit, and the logical path setting unit may be providedseparately.

The present invention can be applied to a wide range of storageapparatuses with external connectability, and storage systems thatinclude that storage apparatus as a component.

1. A storage system comprising a first storage apparatus and a secondstorage apparatus, the first storage apparatus being provided between ahost apparatus and the second storage apparatus that is external to thehost apparatus and the first storage apparatus and that provides one ormore logical devices for storing data, the one or more logical devicesprovided by the second storage apparatus being virtualized as virtualvolumes by the first storage apparatus as if internal logical devicesthereof to the host apparatus, wherein upon a channel connected to thefirst storage apparatus coming on-line, the host apparatus sends via thechannel a predetermined inquiry command to all logical devices definedas being connected to the channel; and the first storage apparatus:recognizes logical devices defined in the host apparatus as beingconnected to the channel, based on the inquiry command sent from thehost apparatus, detects one or more logical devices among the logicaldevices defined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channeland located in the second storage apparatus, based on the recognizedlogical devices recognition result, sets, based on the detected one ormore logical devices detection result, one or more virtual volumes inthe first storage apparatus, respectively corresponding to the detectedone or more logical devices which are connected to the channel andlocated in the second storage apparatus, and sets a first logical pathbetween each of the set one or more virtual volumes and each of thecorresponding one or more logical devices located in the second storageapparatus, executes link-initialization processing for a port in thefirst storage apparatus to be connected to the second storage apparatus,recognizes a port ID of the port of the first storage apparatus, a portID of a corresponding port of the second storage apparatus and amanufacture number for the second storage apparatus, provides the secondstorage apparatus with a type of the host apparatus based on the port IDof the port of the first storage apparatus, the port ID of the port ofthe second storage apparatus, and the manufacture number of the secondstorage apparatus to establish the first logical path to the secondstorage apparatus, selects all the logical devices recognized by thefirst storage apparatus as being connected to the channel, sends theinquiry command to the selected logical devices via the first logicalpath, compares the logical devices recognized by the first storageapparatus as being connected to the channel with the logical devicesdetected as existing in the second storage apparatus to judge whetherall of the logical devices recognized by the first storage apparatus asbeing connected to the channel exist in the second storage apparatus, ifit is judged that not all of the logical devices recognized by the firststorage apparatus as being connected to the channel exist in the secondstorage apparatus, recognizes the logical devices recognized by thefirst storage apparatus as being connected to the channel and existingin the second storage apparatus, obtains device configurationinformation for the first storage apparatus, judges whether any logicaldevices existing in the first storage apparatus, which include virtualvolumes, have identical device numbers as the logical devices recognizedby the first storage apparatus as being connected to the channel andexisting in the second storage apparatus, and selects the logicaldevices recognized by the first storage as being connected to thechannel and existing in the second storage apparatus as virtualizationobjects, and sets virtual volumes each having the identical devicenumbers as each of selected virtualization object logical devices in thefirst storage apparatus, and sets the first logical path between each ofthe set virtual volumes and each of the virtualization object logicaldevices, wherein the inquiry command is a command to seek deviceconfiguration information of said all logical devices defined as beingconnected to the channel for respectively storing therein: control unittype information indicating a type of the host apparatus that can accessthe detected one or more logical devices, control unit model informationindicating a model of a control unit, device type information indicatinga type of the detected one or more logical devices, and device modelinformation indicating a model of the detected one or more logicaldevices, and the device IDs are managed on a port basis to allow onlyaccess to a device from a relevant port so as to separate the logicaldevices with the identical device numbers according to the respectiveaccessible ports.
 2. The storage system according to claim 1, whereinthe first storage apparatus sends the inquiry command to each of thedetected one or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus asbeing connected to the channel and located in the second storageapparatus, and detects one or more logical devices, from among the oneor more logical devices located in the second storage apparatus, basedon each response from the one or more logical devices to the inquirycommand.
 3. The storage system according to claim 2, wherein the firststorage apparatus sets a second logical path between the first storageapparatus and the second storage apparatus, based on node informationfor the second storage apparatus obtained upon initialization of aphysical path connected to the second storage apparatus, and sends theinquiry command to each of the detected one or more logical devicesdefined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel andlocated in the second storage apparatus via the second logical path. 4.The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the first storageapparatus manages an address number that is provided for each of the oneor more virtual volumes, and is identical to an address number for acorresponding one of the one or more logical devices in the secondstorage apparatus, with identification information added to the addressnumber, and sets a different port for each piece of identificationinformation added to the address number, as a port accessible to avirtual volume among the one or more virtual volumes.
 5. The storagesystem according to claim 1, wherein the first and second apparatusesdirectly communicate via a line and respectively internal channelinterfaces thereof.
 6. The storage system according to claim 1, whereinthe first and second apparatuses directly communicate via a switch. 7.The storage system according to claim 1, wherein the first storageapparatus compares device numbers of internal logical devices withdevice numbers of the logical devices of the second storage apparatus tobe virtualized as virtual volumes by the first storage apparatus, anddisplay a warning if there is any duplicated device number.
 8. Thestorage system according to claim 7, wherein if there is any duplicateddevice number, an additional level of identification is added to theinternal logical devices of the first storage apparatus and the virtualvolumes.
 9. The storage system according to claim 8, wherein theadditional level of identification is added as port numbers.
 10. Alogical device virtualization method for a storage system comprising afirst storage apparatus and a second storage apparatus, the firststorage apparatus is provided between a host apparatus and the secondstorage apparatus that is external to the host apparatus and the firststorage apparatus and that provides one or more logical devices forstoring data, the one or more logical devices provided by the secondstorage apparatus being virtualized as virtual volumes by the firststorage apparatus as if internal logical devices thereof to the hostapparatus, the method comprising: upon a channel connected to the firststorage apparatus coming on-line, the host apparatus sending via thechannel a predetermined inquiry command to all logical devices definedas being connected to the channel, the first storage apparatusrecognizing the logical devices defined in the host apparatus as beingconnected to the channel, based on the inquiry command sent from thehost apparatus, the first storage apparatus detecting one or morelogical devices among the logical devices defined in the host apparatusas being connected to the channel and located in the second storageapparatus, based on the recognized logical devices, the first storageapparatus setting, based on the detected one or more logical devices,one or more virtual volumes in the first storage apparatus, respectivelycorresponding to the detected one or more logical devices which areconnected to the channel and located in the second storage apparatus,and setting a first logical path between each of the set one or morevirtual volumes and each of the corresponding one or more logicaldevices located in the second storage apparatus, the first storageapparatus executing link-initialization processing for an port in thefirst storage apparatus to be connected to the second storage apparatus,recognizing a port ID of the port of the first storage apparatus, a portID of a corresponding port of the second storage apparatus and amanufacture number for the second storage apparatus, the first storageapparatus providing the second storage apparatus with a type of the hostapparatus based on the port ID of the port of the first storageapparatus, the port ID of the port of the second storage apparatus, andthe manufacture number of the second storage apparatus to establish thefirst logical path to the second storage apparatus, the first storageapparatus selecting all the logical devices recognized by the firststorage apparatus as being connected to the channel, sending the inquirycommand to the selected logical devices via the first logical path, thefirst storage apparatus comparing the logical devices recognized by thefirst storage apparatus as being connected to the channel with thelogical devices detected as existing in the second storage apparatus tojudge whether all of the logical devices recognized by the first storageapparatus as being connected to the channel exist in the second storageapparatus, if it is judged that not all of the logical devicesrecognized by the first storage apparatus as being connected to thechannel exist in the second storage apparatus, the first storageapparatus recognizing the logical devices recognized by the firststorage apparatus as being connected to the channel and existing in thesecond storage apparatus, the first storage apparatus obtaining deviceconfiguration information for the first storage apparatus, the firststorage apparatus judging whether any logical devices existing in thefirst storage apparatus, which include virtual volumes, have identicaldevice numbers as the logical devices recognized by the first storageapparatus as being connected to the channel and existing in the secondstorage apparatus, and the first storage apparatus selecting the logicaldevices recognized by the first storage apparatus as being connected tothe channel and existing in the second storage apparatus asvirtualization objects, and setting virtual volumes each having theidentical device numbers as each of selected virtualization objectlogical devices in the first storage apparatus, and sets the firstlogical path between each of the set virtual volumes and each of thevirtualization object logical devices, wherein the inquiry command is acommand to seek device configuration information of said all logicaldevices defined as being connected to the channel for respectivelystoring therein: control unit type information indicating a type of thehost apparatus that can access the detected one or more logical devices,control unit model information indicating a model of a control unit,device type information indicating a type of the detected one or morelogical devices, and device model information indicating a model of thedetected one or more logical devices, and the device IDs are managed ona port basis to allow only access to a device from a relevant port so asto separate the logical devices with the identical device numbersaccording to the respective accessible ports.
 11. The virtualizationmethod according to claim 10, wherein the third step includes: the firststorage apparatus sending the inquiry command to each of the detectedone or more logical devices defined in the host apparatus as beingconnected to the channel and located in second storage apparatus; andthe first storage apparatus detecting one or more logical devices, fromamong the one or more logical devices located in the second storageapparatus, based on each response from the one or more logical devicesto the inquiry command.
 12. The virtualization method according to claim11, wherein the third step includes: the first storage apparatus settinga second logical path between the first storage apparatus and the secondstorage apparatus, based on node information for the second storageapparatus obtained upon initialization of a physical path connected tothe second storage apparatus; and the first storage apparatus sendingthe inquiry command to each of the detected one or more logical devicesdefined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel andlocated in the second storage apparatus via the second logical path. 13.The virtualization method according to claim 10, wherein the fourth stepincludes: the first storage apparatus managing an address number that isprovided for each of the one or more virtual volumes, and is identicalto an address number for a corresponding one of the one or more logicaldevices in the second storage apparatus, with identification informationadded to the address number; and the first storage apparatus setting adifferent port for each piece of identification information added to theaddress number, as a port accessible to a virtual volume among the oneor more virtual volumes.
 14. A storage apparatus provided between a hostapparatus and another storage apparatus that is external to the hostapparatus and the storage apparatus and provides one or more logicaldevices for storing data, the storage apparatus virtualizing the one ormore logical devices provided by said another storage apparatus asvirtual volumes as if internal logical devices thereof to the hostapparatus, the storage apparatus comprising: a logical devicerecognition unit that, when the host apparatus sends via a channel apredetermined inquiry command to all logical devices defined as beingconnected to the channel upon the channel connected to the storageapparatus coming on-line, recognizes the one or more logical devicesdefined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel, basedon the inquiry command sent from the host apparatus; a device detectionunit that detects one or more logical devices among the logical devicesdefined in the host apparatus as being connected to the channel andlocated in said another storage apparatus, based on the recognizedlogical devices; a logical path setting unit that sets, based on thedetected one or more logical devices, one or more virtual volumes in thestorage apparatus, respectively corresponding to the detected one ormore logical devices which are connected to the channel and located insaid another storage apparatus, and sets a first logical path betweeneach of the set one or more virtual volumes and each of thecorresponding one or more logical devices located in said anotherstorage apparatus; a unit that executes link-initialization processingfor an port in the storage apparatus to be connected to said anotherstorage apparatus, recognizes a port ID of the port of the storageapparatus, a port ID of a corresponding port of said another storageapparatus and a manufacture number for said another storage apparatus; aunit that provides said another storage apparatus with a type of thehost apparatus based on the port ID of the port of the storageapparatus, the port ID of the port of said another storage apparatus,and the manufacture number of said another storage apparatus toestablish the first logical path to the second storage apparatus; a unitthat selects all the logical devices recognized by the logical devicerecognition unit as being connected to the channel, sends the inquirycommand to the selected logical devices via the first logical path; aunit that compares the logical devices recognized by the logical deviceas being connected to the channel with the logical devices detected asexisting in said another storage apparatus to judge whether all of thelogical devices recognized by the logical device recognition unit asbeing connected to the channel exist in said another storage apparatus;if it is judged that not all of the logical devices recognized by thelogical device recognition unit as being connected to the channel existin said another storage apparatus, a unit that recognizes the logicaldevices recognized by the logical device recognition unit as beingconnected to the channel and existing in said another storage apparatus;a unit that obtains device configuration information for the storageapparatus; a unit that judges whether any logical devices existing inthe storage apparatus, which include virtual volumes, have identicaldevice numbers as the logical devices recognized by the logical devicerecognition unit as being connected to the channel and existing in saidanother storage apparatus; and a unit that selects the logical devicesrecognized by the logical device recognition unit as being connected tothe channel and existing in said another storage apparatus asvirtualization objects, and sets virtual volumes each having theidentical device numbers as each of selected virtualization objectlogical devices in the storage apparatus, and sets the first logicalpath between each of the set virtual volumes and each of thevirtualization object logical devices, wherein the inquiry command is acommand to seek device configuration information of said all logicaldevices defined as being connected to the channel for respectivelystoring therein: control unit type information indicating a type of thehost apparatus that can access the detected one or more logical devices,control unit model information indicating a model of a control unit,device type information indicating a type of the detected one or morelogical devices, and device model information indicating a model of thedetected one or more logical devices, and the device IDs are managed ona port basis to allow only access to a device from a relevant port so asto separate the logical devices with the identical device numbersaccording to the respective accessible ports.